The Department of Justice announced on Monday that a Tennessee man with ties to white nationalist groups has been arrested for allegedly planning to use an explosive-laden drone to attack a Nashville energy facility. The man, identified as 24-year-old Skyler Philippi, is accused of attempting to attach several pounds of C-4 explosives to a drone with the intention of destroying an electric substation in Nashville.
Court documents revealed that Philippi had expressed his desire to attack multiple substations to “shock the system” to a confidential source working with the FBI in July. Subsequently, he was introduced to an undercover FBI employee who gathered information about Philippi’s plan with other undercover agents. Philippi had researched previous attacks on electric substations and determined that using firearms would not be effective, leading him to plan the drone attack.
Philippi reportedly claimed affiliation with various white nationalist and extremist groups, including the National Alliance, which advocates for the eradication of Jewish people and other races. Extremist groups have increasingly considered attacking the U.S. power grid as a way to disrupt the country, which comprises over 6,400 power plants and 450,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines.
In September, Philippi provided the undercover officials with excerpts of his manifesto, focusing on preserving the white race. On the day of the planned attack, Philippi and undercover employees went to the launch site in Nashville where he believed a drone with explosives was ready to be flown. However, law enforcement intervened and arrested Philippi on site.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “As charged, Skyler Philippi believed he was moments away from launching an attack on a Nashville energy facility to further his violent white supremacist ideology – but the FBI had already compromised his plot.” A federal public defender has been appointed to represent Philippi, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 13.
The incident highlights the ongoing threat posed by individuals with extremist ideologies and their willingness to resort to violence to further their agenda. It also underscores the importance of law enforcement agencies’ vigilance in preventing such attacks and protecting critical infrastructure. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities to ensure the safety and security of communities.
